After my visit with Molly in Ohio, I felt like I owed Ohio an apology. I wasn’t expecting much, but it was actually beautiful and not crowded anywhere we went. I loved seeing Molly at Camp Carl and meeting her new friends! Here are some photos:
Hudson, OH was the sweetest little town.
Had a great 4th!
The rodeo was super fun! Just a great day overall!
Josh and I found a pretty walking trail Friday morning.
Then we went back to camp and got Molly’s car to wash it and gas it up and also did her laundry! took her friends to dinner Saturday night. Such a fun time.
We are so proud of Molly! It’s a joy to be her parents. Can’t wait to have her HOME!
Ohio—Camp Carl—you were so much fun and just beautiful! Hope we meet again💕
John 2 was read at our wedding back in 2001. I always perk up when I hear teaching on the wedding in Cana, where Jesus’ first public miracle happened.
Last week when I was listening to The Collaboratory podcast, and she was reading John 2 from several translations, I was all ears. I love how she is reading a passage multiple times from different translations. The Lord really uses this to speak to me.
I was reminded of many truths in my listening and was particularly struck by the podcast’s host saying: “When you serve, you see.”
She focused in on the servers at the wedding. Mary, Jesus’ mom, had looked at them and told them to do whatever Jesus said to do. She meant business.
So the servers, who were behind the scenes and moving throughout the crowds to serve the guests, did what Jesus said to do. They filled ceremonial cleansing pots with water. Full to the brim. Not knowing why exactly. And that was no small amount of water. It would have taken time and effort and diligence. They were there when Jesus miraculously turned all that water into wine, though it doesn’t say they tasted it. It says they took a cup of the new wine to the head waiter to drink. This was an act of faith! He tasted and was astonished at how good the wine was. The wine is usually best at the beginning of the wedding and gets less impressive as the night goes on and guests are maybe not able to tell.
But the guests all could tell that this wine was really, really good.
The servers had the inside scoop though. They knew what Jesus had done. They were acquainted with The Source of the goodness. These servers saw what others did not. John 2:9 says, “When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom.”
Those words in parenthesis pack a punch.
I had a thought about motherhood in this moment. I’ve been thinking about my kids’ summer. Each one is in a different place, doing different things with different people. Yet, they’re each living with purpose. This brought my heart great joy because I know the amount of time I have spent praying that my kids would walk in the purposes of God for their lives. Usually I’ve prayed these prayers alone….I have spent countless miles walking our neighborhoods—here and in Georgia and anywhere my feet found me—praying that they would walk out the steps God has for them in this life, which got me thinking about how much of the work of a mom is often hidden—in the parenthesis, if you will. A mom often serves her family in a million ways the family doesn’t see. But they experience the goodness of her hidden work.
The fresh, clean towels they grab from the stack.
The clean underwear they pull out of their drawer.
The hot meal on the table.
The family enjoys the physical work of her hands.
They also enjoy the spiritual work of her heart.
This is why I think I’m so overjoyed with how the summer is going for our kids. Knowing all the hidden prayer times, the groans only The Lord understood as I asked Him to fulfill His purposes for their lives. And here they are all in a season of doing just that. And I’m so happy about it because I see how well they’re each doing…how much joy they have, how their confidence is growing, how God is using them in very personal ways, redeeming the past in sweet ways, deepening friendships, maturing their faith and so much more.
But an even deeper sweetness comes from knowing The Source of the goodness being poured into their lives and out through their lives this summer. I know The Source because it’s the same Source who has poured into me and listened to me as I’ve poured out my heart to Him on their behalf. Jesus is The Source. My version of the verse could read “(but the mom who had prayed to God for and served her family knew)….”
Moms, I know so much of your work is hidden. The way you serve your family is often taken for granted or maybe seems lonely. Please know you’re never alone. You have a friend in Jesus. Pour your heart out to Him for your family. Have faith that He is working in His time. The best days are ahead.
